My Mansion

The word 'mansions' itself is an easy one. A mansion does not have to be what we normally think.

The Fatima Mansions in Dublin were recently torn down for redevelopment. They were far from 'mansions' more like slum apartments. A mansion, at least in this part of the English speaking world, can mean a dwelling place.

Don't have a clue about the Greek word

 

Jesus went to 'prepare' a place for us, not build one - I agree with you Tiny.

His preparing was His death which is the propitiation for our sins. His father house ALREADY has many 'rooms' (mansions - large rooms) which simply means God has enough space for all, but we could not enter without Him making the way ready through His death and resurrection.

He does not say that while He is away He is building and that we are waiting for Him to get done and then return. He is done and awaiting the Fathers declaration to go and get His children.

So yes TinyTim, I agree with you.

 

Whenever I hear the song about "Mansion of the hilltop" I want to show everyone the old Fatima Mansions





And here are the new Fatima Mansions - still not what is normally thought of:

 

To true Tim..

I want to elaborate on something though. A 'dwelling place' does not necessarily mean a 'house' but it also refers to a room. If we allow the passage to tell us what it means we must conclude that it is not a house at all that is being spoken of, but a room.

'In my Fathers house' are many mansions. This is not speaking of houses being inside His house. But rooms inside His House. Smaller dwelling inside His Dwelling.

This is not to you Tim but others who have missed this simple understanding of context. We could not be with the Father where He is unless Christ 'prepare' or make it ready for us which is done through His death and resurrection. However, the dwellings are a reference, if not a literal truth, to both the position (family) and permenance (it has already been made ready for someone specific) of their habitition within the Fathers (head of the family) dwelling.

 

I'd rather live in the ghetto of heaven than a palace in hell. :laugh:

Whatever the Lord is pleased to give to me in His Kingdom will be fine. If I have a choice, I'll take a fluffy cloud and a guitar so I can sing praise forever.

RB

 

Good points in the OP Tim.

The thing that gets me is how Christians focus on the streets of gold, pearly gates, etc. as if these things are reward of heaven. But what makes heaven a place of great reward is that Christ is there.
The glory of heaven is the glory of Christ.
The joy of heaven is the joy of Christ.

Thats the point Jesus was making in John 14.

You can have mansions and streets of gold and whatever, but if Christ is not there, if God is not there, then I do not want to go to heaven. I want to be where Christ is.

"Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. " Psalm 73:25

 

I can't argue with your answers though my view is very different.

I believe this passage is spiritual in nature yet Jesus uses earthly physicals to make his point. Paul says to be absent from he body etc.... He is speaking of our spirit or that which is really us since we know everything flesh is corrupted/corruptible.

I think this verse clarifies and is key to understanding that passage in John...

2Co 5:1 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

Our house or earthly tabernacle is our flesh. House being a metaphor for that which we (the spirit) occupies. Jesus is saying where his father dwells (in my fathers house) are many dwelling places that we could not fathom in comparison to where we live today [(are many mansions) think angels for many]. I'm going there soon to prepare a place for you (I will soon make this place accessible to you) and where I go, there you may be also (that someday you can join me where my father and I dwell). I will come again to receive you into myself (I believe this to be referring to the rapture or the second coming of Christ. No matter which view you have, he is saying he won't take a chance on us getting lost along the way. He will come and get us and take us to this place).

 

I don't normally disclose my personal views on this subject because I don't want to destroy anyone's faith. But in my view Grandpa won't be Grandpa even if you do happen to meet him in the kingdom.

Rev 2:17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.

I am pretty sure Grandpa's new name won't be Grandpa...

Because I believe we'll be living in a new home or IOW our soul will be occupying a different heavenly tabernacle which is made with love, forgiveness, faith etc... (that is the timber I believe we send up for our new home on high) I don't know how we will recognize Grandpa as Grandpa. I'm thinking we won't recognize each other as we do today and like you said, will be so consumed with praising God that we won't be too concerned about it. Secondly I don't believe we will recognize each other because that which we use for recognizing each other (the flesh) is the part that will dissolve.

These are my personal views and not meant as a true fact of theology...

 

Does this have something to do with how a bridegroom "prepared" a place for his bride? I think I heard that once somewhere.

In Jesus' day there was the engagement which went on a long time and was as official as the wedding. During that time, the groom prepared the dwelling place. So Jesus is preparing the place for his bride, the church. This does not mean, of course, that he is actually building something but that the Jewish wedding idea is a metaphor for Jesus bringing his bride to the groom's dwelling place. So it seems more corporate than individual and more to do with the church than each person.

I just found an article that mentions it here at
http://www.zianet.com/maxey/reflx267.htm

 

I don't know about that LeBuick. The passage from II Sam 12:23, where David says "I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me", certainly implies to me that we will recognize our loved ones.

I do believe though that our relationships to one another will certainly be different based on Christ's reply that "there will be no marrying or giving in marriage in heaven" when questioned about who's wife the woman married to seven brothers would be in the afterlife. That however is different from simple recognition of a previous relationship or person.

 

I agree, David does seem to imply he will see the child again.

 

When Jesus says "My Father's House...", He is referring to the Temple. He had referred to the Temple as "My Father's House" earlier in John when He cleansed it with the whip.

"Dwelling places" (not mansions) refer to small rooms in the Temple where the priests would stay when they performed their duties once a year (or so) for a week or so. This is seen in Luke with John the Baptist's father.

"I am going to prepare a place for you..." Jesus is referring to going to the cross to die for them. It is clear in context that He is referring to His coming death. He is returning to the Father, by way of the cross.

Jesus is saying that by His death on the cross, He is preparing a place for those who believe in Him to become priests of God, living in His presence and worshipping Him, both in this life and the next.

That is a lot better than some stupid house.

peace to youraying:

 

TinyTim has "hung up" one of the best threads I have read on this forum in a long time

Thanks, TT!!

As for recognizing each other in Heaven------recognizing my dad and mom---my aunts, uncles and others who I have known on Earth who have now made departure------I believe that in Heaven--we will retain our same personalities(although made flawless through the work of the Lord Jesus)------I will remain me throughout all eternity----as far as recognizing my saved loved ones once I have arrived--------sure-----I believe I will-----they won't be some new "stranger" to me that I will need to introduce myself to

I told my momma before she passed away-------"Momma---lets meet each other by the river over on the other side!!!"-----to which she responded----"Sure, Son!! I'll be looking for you there!!"

But as far as recognizing each other---------on the Mount of Transfiguration------the Apostles all recognized the two charactors talking with the Lord Jesus as whom???? Moses & Elijah----Moses and Elijah were recognizable as themselves----I can just about imagine Peter, James, and John looking in amazement----"Holy Smoke!!! Its Moses & Elijah!!"-------they didn't have to play the guessin' game-----"Alright, boys!!! Three guesses as to who we are!!!"

On Resurrection day------when my Spirit reunites with the dust of my body left behind----------I will be able to stand before a mirror and recogize me as I know me right now---------although standing before a mirror then I will behold me in a perfect way through the mind of the Lord Jesus Christ

 

Excellent post! This is what I believe, and though you haven't quoted Scripture, your views are based on it. Three thumbs up! :thumbs: :thumbs: :thumbs:

 

Folks, pay attention to Roger (C4K) and a couple of others. The "mansions" are a linguistic matter. In both 1611 and now, British English used the word "mansion" to mean "dwelling place." However, American English changed the meaning of the word to a large, fancy house. In Japanese, the transliteration of "mansion" is manshon, which means a fancy apartment as opposed to a cheap one.

As for Matt. 14:2-3, the word for "prepare" is also used in Mark 14:12 and Matt. 26:17 and some other verses for preparing the Passover. It's used in the NT for preparing a meal, a way, etc. So the word is usually a practical word, though sometimes symbolic. In this case I like to think it is practical, Jesus literally preparing our living quarters in Heaven. Yes, He is sitting at the Father's right hand, but I think it is a mistake to glue our Savior to His seat. I think He can stand up, walk around and get a little preparing done for us too, once in awhile! Being God, He is omnipresent, you know!

Concerning our life in Heaven, since Jesus delights in our fellowship down here, even if only two or three are gathered in His name, I believe He will also delight to see us love each other and have sweet fellowship with each other in Heaven. I long to see my loved ones in Heaven: Dad, Granddad and the others. If I loved them here on earth, and love them though they are in Heaven, how could that God-given love and desire to be with them and talk with them and do things with them stop just when I have reached Heaven where they are now?

My Granddad, who wrote one of the best-selling books ever on Heaven (Bible Facts About Heaven at: http://www.swordbooks.com/ricejohnr.aspx), when asked what Heaven would be like, used to say, "God will give you whatever it takes to make you happy in Heaven!" And of course when we get there, I'm sure we'll be happy just fellowshipping with our loved ones and praising Jesus! :type: